The last week and-a-half has brought plenty of discouraging news from around the nation for John McCain’s Presidential campaign and the latest polling from New Hampshire isn’t going to change that pattern. Barack Obama now enjoys a ten point lead in the Granite State.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in New Hampshire Obama attracting 53% of the vote while McCain earns 43%. This is the first time Obama has held a significant lead in the state since July and the first time he’s held a double digit lead since June. Polls in August and September showed the race to be a toss-up. In fact, less than two weeks ago, McCain was up by two points, 49% to 47%.

Obama is now viewed favorably by 60% of New Hampshire voters, McCain by 57%. Those figures reflect a six-point improvement for Obama and a three-point decline for McCain compared to the late September survey.

As for the running mates, Delaware Senator Joe Biden is viewed favorably by 54% while 47% say the same about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

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The economy remains the top issue of Election 2008 in New Hampshire and 50% of the state’s voters trust Obama more than McCain on that topic. Forty-one percent (41%) have the opposite view and trust McCain.

Nine percent (9%) of Granite State voters rate the nation’s economy as good or excellent while 59% describe it as poor. Just 3% say the economy is getting better while 84% say it is getting worse.

Obama now leads by twenty-one percentage points among women in New Hampshire but trails by two among men. The Democrat leads by seven among investors and by eighteen among non-investors (see full demographic crosstabs).

Nationally, Obama has opened a modest but stable lead in the Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking poll.

Rasmussen Markets data shows that Obama is currently given a 65.0% chance of winning New Hampshire's four Electoral College votes this year. With release of this poll, New Hampshire moves from “Toss-Up” to “Leans Democratic” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

Just 23% of New Hampshire voters say that George W. Bush is doing a good or excellent job as President.

Yesterday, Rasmussen Reports released new poll results for North Carolina, New Mexico, Montana, Kentucky and Nebraska.

Earlier, results were released from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Demographic crosstabs for all state polling are available for Premium Members. Learn More.

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